'The Hunger Games' is almost here!

It has been a very, very, veeeeery long time since I blogged here, and my only excuse is that it has been hectic!

However, I can’t stop myself from blogging about the movie I’ve been eagerly anticipating since before most people even knew what it was — “The Hunger Games,” of course! Yes, I’ve got my midnight showing ticket at the IMAX theater and, even though I shouldn’t admit it, my replica HG mockingjay pin ready for the big event.

Following the debate about whether or not these books/movie is suitable for young audiences, I’ve been thinking about it a lot. And I still stand with my original opinion that these books need to be taught in schools — high schools, that is. Kids under 13 probably shouldn’t read the books. But I honestly believe the story has great value, and here’s why.

The violence in them isn’t gratuitous. I’m tired of people simply describing this book as “kids killing kids.” The story, simply, is about youth in a horrible situation, and one young woman who overcomes it to inspire others with hope so that their society can improve. (Thank you, Liam Hemsworth, for helping me articulate that!)

Will that message be conveyed in the movie? I hope so.

Here’s what I’m most excited, and most worried, about seeing on the big screen:

Most excited about:
• Seeing Katniss come to life. She’s probably my absolute favorite fictional heroine of all-time next to Lois Lane. I have to admit. Jennifer Lawrence has totally won me over with her fun and friendly personality on late night talk shows, and more importantly, in the clips from the movie I’ve watched online. But can she pull off Katniss Everdeen with the justice the character deserves? We’ll see.

• Setting Katniss on fire in the parade. Will this look totally cheesy, or appear as cool as I imagined it in the books? (People who haven’t read the books probably just read that and blurted, “What the hell?! They set her on fire?!”) Trust me. It’s cool in the book.

• The trackerjacker scene! Again, fans of the books will know what I’m talking about. I’m dying to find out if those nasty little wasp-like critters will be as terrifying in the movie as they were in the books. Poor Glimmer.

• Is Buttercup in the movie? I’ve been told that a certain kitty cat is, indeed, in the film. But I still can’t wait to see him for myself.

• Katniss and Peeta training in the Capitol. Enough said.

• Haymitch Abernatchy on the big screen. He’s such a great, complex character in the book. I’m sick of people saying Team Gale or Team Peeta. I’m definitely Team Katniss or Team Haymitch. Haymitch is just…awesome.

Most worried about:
• Seeing Katniss come to life. I’m putting my faith in Jennifer Lawrence, but … I still worry.

• Peeta. I adore Josh Hutcherson, always have, but….have you seen how tiny he is at premieres next to Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence? Again, I adore Peeta as a character, but I’m worried Josh just isn’t the best actor to play him. But my fingers are crossed.

• The romance. “The Hunger Games” is not a romance story. I’m afraid the Gale-Katniss-Peeta relationships will be made primary in the movie, when it really is only a small subplot of the books.

• A certain wee one’s death scene. I bawled when I read it in the book. I’m terrified I’ll be a slobbering fool in the theater when I actually see it happen on the big screen.

• The Hunger Games itself. I hope it’s not too violent or graphic, but then again, it kind of needs to be. There’s a lot that happens in the arena that could highlight the book’s flaws — and yes, I’m talking about a certain scene at the end involving creatures called Muttations. They were my least favorite part of the book and could come across as ridiculous if not done well.

Only one day and counting until I find out if my fears have basis.